NURS FPX 6108 Assessment 3 Curriculum Theory, Framework, and Models
Student Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX6108 Curriculum Overview: Design, Develop and Evaluate
Prof. Name
Date
Description of the Selected Health Care Curriculum
The selected curriculum is a four-week nurse orientation program designed for St. Mary’s Home, a 231-bed long-term care organization that offers skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and dementia services for older adults. The purpose of this program is to prepare newly hired nurses to provide safe, ethical, culturally responsive, and resident-centered care in a complex geriatric environment.
The orientation uses multiple instructional methods so that new staff can build both confidence and competence. These methods include:
- Classroom teaching
- Online learning modules
- Simulation-based skills laboratories
- Supervised clinical shifts with preceptors
This blended format helps nurses develop technical proficiency as well as communication, empathy, and decision-making skills needed in long-term care settings.
What standards support this curriculum?
The curriculum is aligned with the American Nurses Association (ANA) Scope and Standards of Practice and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) long-term care regulations. This ensures that nurses understand professional responsibilities, legal expectations, resident rights, quality standards, and safe practice requirements (Unruh et al., 2025).
What core geriatric competencies are emphasized?
Because the program serves older adults, the curriculum prioritizes skills that are highly relevant to geriatric nursing.
| Competency Area | Practical Focus |
|---|---|
| Medication Safety | Polypharmacy management and adverse drug monitoring |
| Dementia Care | Communication strategies and behavioral support |
| Fall Prevention | Risk screening and environmental safety |
| Wound Management | Pressure injury prevention and treatment |
| Cultural Responsiveness | Respectful, individualized care planning |
The program also integrates educational theories such as Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory, Benner’s Novice to Expert Model, and Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory. These frameworks strengthen learning through reflection, hands-on practice, and gradual professional development (Fındık, 2025; Haritha & Rao, 2024).
Fundamental Organizing Design and Theoretical Framework
The curriculum follows a competency-based design, meaning learning is organized around clearly defined clinical, interpersonal, and ethical skills that nurses must demonstrate before independent practice.
What does a competency-based curriculum mean in this context?
Each learning module focuses on measurable outcomes linked to patient safety and quality care. Examples include:
- Accurate documentation
- Safe medication administration
- Infection prevention
- Dementia-sensitive communication
- Ethical decision-making
- Team collaboration
This structure ensures that learning is practical, observable, and aligned with organizational expectations.
Which theories guide the curriculum?
Two major theories provide the foundation:
| Theory | Main Contribution to Curriculum |
|---|---|
| Benner’s Novice to Expert Model | Supports gradual skill progression through experience and mentorship |
| Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory | Encourages self-directed, relevant, experience-based learning |
Together, these frameworks promote clinical growth, accountability, and readiness for long-term care practice.
History and Major Concepts of the Selected Framework
What is Benner’s Novice to Expert Model?
Developed by Patricia Benner in 1984 and influenced by the Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition, this theory explains how nurses advance through five stages of professional development:
- Novice
- Advanced Beginner
- Competent
- Proficient
- Expert
Benner proposed that nurses gain clinical judgment not only through theory, but through repeated real-world experiences, reflection, and mentorship (Yu et al., 2024).
How is Benner’s theory used in St. Mary’s Home?
Newly hired nurses initially rely on rules, checklists, and direct supervision. As experience increases, they begin to prioritize care, anticipate resident needs, and manage more complex situations independently.
NURS FPX 6108 Assessment 3 Curriculum Theory, Framework, and Models
For example:
| Early Orientation Stage | Later Development Stage |
|---|---|
| Follows medication checklist exactly | Recognizes subtle medication side effects |
| Performs wound care step-by-step | Adjusts interventions based on healing progress |
| Reports changes to supervisor | Independently identifies urgent concerns |
What is Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory?
Malcolm Knowles introduced this theory in the 1970s. It states that adult learners:
- Prefer self-direction
- Bring previous experiences into learning
- Learn best when content is relevant
- Value immediate application
- Are motivated by solving real problems
How is Knowles’ theory applied?
The orientation program uses case studies, simulations, discussions, and reflective activities so nurses can connect previous knowledge to current responsibilities. For example, dementia communication training may involve role-play scenarios that mirror actual resident interactions (Fındık, 2025).
Application of the Organizing Design and Theoretical Framework
The curriculum demonstrates strong integration of theory into teaching methods, content sequencing, and evaluation.
How is competency-based learning applied?
Each module contains measurable expectations that determine readiness for independent practice. Nurses are evaluated on performance rather than passive attendance.
Examples include:
- Safe medication pass
- Accurate charting
- Correct PPE use
- Effective handoff communication
- Ethical resident advocacy
How is Benner’s model visible in practice?
The orientation progresses from simple to complex responsibilities. Nurses first focus on foundational tasks such as infection control and documentation. Later, they participate in interdisciplinary care planning, manage multiple resident priorities, and make sound clinical judgments (Brown, 2025).
How is Knowles’ theory visible in practice?
The curriculum encourages active participation rather than lecture-only learning.
| Learning Method | Adult Learning Benefit |
|---|---|
| Simulation labs | Safe practice in realistic scenarios |
| Case studies | Clinical reasoning development |
| Reflective journaling | Self-assessment and growth |
| Role play | Communication and empathy skills |
| Online modules | Flexible self-paced learning |
This combination improves confidence, critical thinking, and transfer of learning to patient care settings.
Why Is This Curriculum Effective?
The program is effective because it combines regulatory compliance, evidence-based teaching methods, and real clinical preparation. It does not focus only on technical tasks; it also builds ethical awareness, teamwork, and compassionate care behaviors.
Key strengths include:
- Clear competency expectations
- Strong mentorship model
- Practical geriatric focus
- Adult-centered teaching methods
- Resident safety emphasis
- Continuous feedback opportunities
Conclusion
The St. Mary’s Home nurse orientation curriculum is a structured and evidence-informed program that successfully combines a competency-based design with Benner’s and Knowles’ educational frameworks. It helps new nurses develop clinical ability, professional confidence, and compassionate care practices required in long-term care environments. Through mentorship, experiential learning, reflection, and measurable outcomes, the curriculum strengthens workforce readiness, staff retention, and resident outcomes. Overall, it supports a culture of continuous improvement and high-quality ethical nursing care.
References
Brown, C. K. (2025). Novice to expert nursing theorist: Patricia Benner. The Art of Nursing: Humanizing Healthcare. https://open.ocolearnok.org/artofnursing/chapter/chapter-4-skill-of-involvement/
Fındık, L. Y. (2025). Adult learning theories. In Exploring adult education through learning theory (pp. 29–54). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-5812-2.ch002
NURS FPX 6108 Assessment 3 Curriculum Theory, Framework, and Models
Haritha, G., & Rao, R. (2024). A holistic approach to professional development: Integrating Kolb’s experiential learning theory for soft skills mastery. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 415–424. https://journaleet.in/index.php/jeet/article/view/2426
Unruh, M. A., Carney, J. K., Moreno, A., Sulmasy, L. S., et al. (2025). Optimizing ethical care, quality, and safety in long-term services and supports: A position paper from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/annals-24-03641
NURS FPX 6108 Assessment 3 Curriculum Theory, Framework, and Models
Yu, H., Chen, Y., Wu, L., Wang, L., Lai, Y., & You, A. (2024). Construction and implement of hierarchical management system for specialist nurses based on Patricia Benner’s theory. Frontiers in Medicine, 11(11). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1472384